Valence Technology Inc. has updated its N-Charge Power System so that it will not only power your laptop PC, but simultaneously power and charge a second mobile device as well, such as a cell phones or a Pocket PC. If you are like me and can't get enough power when you travel, this is the best thing going!
WORKS WITH LAPTOPS, CELL PHONES, PDAS, AND THE POCKET PC
I received a beta version of Valence Technology's 10 amp/hour N-Charge Power System about a month ago. The standard package includes a large, flat, lithium-ion power cell and a "high power port cable" to charge your laptop. Optional "low power port cables" are available to charge cell phones and PDAs, including, of course, the Pocket PC. N-Charge is available in 10 Ah and 5 Ah versions.
I tested N-Charge in my car and on a plane. I even used it to power my laptop PC while I was doing presentations for a Pocket PC user group meeting. Valence Technology claims that the 10 Ah N-Charge can power your laptop for 10 hours, enough time to watch three DVD movies or do an entire day's work on your laptop without worrying about where the closest electrical outlet is. N-Charge comes with a built in green LED battery level gauge that displays how much power you have remaining.
You recharge N-Charge with your laptop's AC adapter, and then you use N-Charge to power and recharge your laptop, cell phone, and Pocket PC. That means you only have to bring along one AC adapter a few power cables. That's nice!
When you order N-Charge, you need to specify the laptop, cell phone, and Pocket PC or PDA that you use so they can include the correct adapters with the package. The laptop adapter is included in the price of the package. The others cost extra. I got two extra power cables: one for my Nokia cell phone and one for my iPAQ Pocket PC. The iPAQ connector will work with several other Pocket PCs, including the Toshiba e550 and e740, the Audiovox Maestro and Thera, and the Casio E-100 series Palm-size and Pocket PCs. N-Charge will even power the HP Jornada series Pocket PCs when used with the HP Jornada Power Adapter from Pharos GPS. That adaptor is available for $9.95 from the PocketPCpassion online store (http://pocketpcpassion.esellerate.net/default.asp).
N-Charge is relatively thin and flat, which means that you can rest it on a table and place your laptop on top of it. However, I kept mine in my laptop's case, which rested by my feet during plane flights. The cord was long enough to reach from the floor to a laptop resting on the drop-down table. However, the cable for the Pocket PC is much shorter and it was difficult to power a Pocket PC and use it at the same time. Instead, I left the Pocket PC connected to N-Charge and charging when I wasn't using it, and disconnected it when I wanted to use it.
I also found that I could use the USB sync/charging cable that comes with the Road Warrior Complete Travel Package to charge my Pocket PC indirectly. I attached my iPAQ 3800 to the USB port of my laptop with the cable while the laptop was attached to N-Charge. This left the N-Charge lower port free to charge my cell phone as well. Pretty cool!
Valence Technology's N-Charge Power System can simultaneously power two mobile
devices.
IT'S HARD TO PUT A PRICE ON PRODUCTIVITY
The low power connection port used by the Pocket PC, other PDAs, and cell phones is located on the front of N-Charge. I think it would have been easier to use had it been located on the back side along with the high power connection port for the laptop. I also would like to see Valence Technology provide longer cables for Pocket PCs and cell phones. As it is, it's not very easy to use your Pocket PC or phone while either is connected to N-Charge.
The N-Charge Power System is available for the following devices at this time: laptops (Dell, IBM, Compaq, HP, and Acer), cell phones (Nokia), PDAs (HP iPAQ Pocket PC--which means you can use it with other Pocket PCs; see my comments above).
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